So you have rented your Emerald Isle vacation beach house. The car is packed and you’re about to head south. Many of you traveling longer distances hail from Ohio, or maybe Pennsylvania. Why do we know this? Take a glance at the license plates when you arrive in EI. See what I mean?
Read the rest of this entry
In spite of $4 a gallon gas, large crowds gathered at the Crystal Coast town of Emerald Isle. The beaches were jammed, the DQ was filled with those seeking to satisfy their sweet tooth (hats off to Glenn’s team!) and the restaurants had long lines with equally long wait times (Jordan’s Seafood was awesome Saturday night-we did takeout!). Everyone (locals and vacationers) seem to accept the long lines and enjoy this 4th of July holiday.
A typical week at the North Carolina coast for our family means lots of playing in the sand, riding the
waves, long walks on the beach, and more time than you could imagine crouched in the shell seeking position. Time must always be allocated for at least one game of miniature putt-putt golf and a trip to the NC Aquarium in Pine Knoll Shores. We always try to venture out and explore new areas, interesting shops and yummy restaurants. These are a few of our favorite Crystal Coast beach vacation traditions.
If you’re looking for a funky selection of slightly eccentric “island-themed” home and fashion accessories,
you owe it to yourself to stop by this neat little boutique on your way to Indian Beach from Emerald Isle. With an adjacent convenience store and gas station, Flip Flops is owned by Ms. Marcie G. Creech (FYI-Marcie is NOT associated with the Crystal Coast Blog). Marice has one of the finest collections on the island for home accessories including painted “beach-themed” furniture. Utilizing local Carteret County artist, including Shirley Pittman and works by Gwen Jordan, their pieces will spice up any room in your Crystal Coast home. One other NC artist that offers some really interesting work is Deborah Cavenaugh from Wilmington.
When packing for the beach, one of the first items to go into the suitcase is a bathing suit. If you’re planning a trip to the Crystal Coast then I say don’t bother. Just wait until you get to Emerald Isle and visit Fran’s Beachwear. Fran’s has a huge selection of swim wear. In all my travels, I have never seen a store with the choices for bathing suits that you will find at Fran’s. Whether you are looking for a two piece, one piece, tankini, petite, women’s or suits by cup size, Fran’s Beachwear is the place to go. Fran offers every color and style you can imagine.
